Help with No Start Issue

[Targa Me]

Hello Everyone.
I have a stock 1984 3.2 engine.
I replaced my clutch and now I have a no start issue.
I can hear the starter motor spinning but its not engaging the flywheel.
I'm getting 10.4 volts at the yellow wire. is that enough voltage?
I tried cleaning up all the ground connectors...trans, engine compartment, batter area, but still nothing.

I tried removing the starter from the car and running 12.0 volts to it and it operates correctly with the gear spinning and extending.

Any ideas?
Let me know,
Thanks.

[Targalid]

Try rolling the car an inch or two while in gear and try again. It sounds like your starter is operating but not engaging the flywheel ring gear. Perhaps you are missing a tooth on the ring gear. If so, moving the car while in gear will rotate the engine enough to find a good spot on the ring gear.

[Targa Me]

No teeth missing on ring gear.

[Targa Me]

Here's something interesting.
I ran a wire lead directly from the + battery to the #50 connector (yellow) on the solenoid and still no start, but I can hear the starter motor spin.

[Lukesportsman]

Is the bendix throwing the gear out into contact with ring gear?

[Targalid]

You may have a defective starter solenoid. The starter switch initially applies power to the solenoid, which extends the bendix and simultaneously closes the circuit to the starter motor. If the gear extends and the motor turns, the starter should engage with the ring gear. Most often if there is a problem, the solenoid will give a loud click, as the gear extends, but the starter will not turn, not the other way around. I have repaired starters by removing and cleaning the rust and other particles from the solenoid cavity. The plunger often will hang up because a small piece of junk will not allow it to travel its full length. Maybe after 28 years it needs a good cleaning. With the starter off the car you can push the gear all the way out with a screwdriver just to see if it is working properly. When you energize the starter do you see the gear extend fully and spin?

[Targa Me]

Here's what I've discovered.

I removed the starter motor from the car and ran 12V to it. The Bendix gear jumps out and spins.

I took a screwdriver and pulled out the gear and measured the distance from the furthest end of the gear to the flat portion of the mounting face of the starter. The distance is 1-1/2".
Now I measured from the mounting surface for the starter of the transmission to the end of the ring gear.
The distance is about 2". So my starter is throwing out the gear 1/2" short of making contact.

Because the engine/trans are mounted in the car, can anyone verify my ring gear/mounting surface measurement?

Also this starter is a high torque starter purchased from Automotion. Can anyone verify the 1-1/2" throw measurement I'm getting?

I appreciate any help you can offer. I'm trying to verify all this before I run out and buy a new starter.

[JJ 911SC]

Check pics in Post 14 of Hi Torque Starter - HELP

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Targa Me

Here's what I've discovered.

I removed the starter motor from the car and ran 12V to it. The Bendix gear jumps out and spins.

I took a screwdriver and pulled out the gear and measured the distance from the furthest end of the gear to the flat portion of the mounting face of the starter. The distance is 1-1/2".
Now I measured from the mounting surface for the starter of the transmission to the end of the ring gear.
The distance is about 2". So my starter is throwing out the gear 1/2" short of making contact.

Because the engine/trans are mounted in the car, can anyone verify my ring gear/mounting surface measurement?

Also this starter is a high torque starter purchased from Automotion. Can anyone verify the 1-1/2" throw measurement I'm getting?

I appreciate any help you can offer. I'm trying to verify all this before I run out and buy a new starter.

I think you discovered the source of the gear engagement issue. Typically, the manufacturer installs a rebuilt starter assy (Denso or Hitachi) into a vehicle-specific mount. However, the solenoid linkage may have the incorrect geometry. Return the starter and get a correct replacement. Ask them to double-check the pinion gear throw is compatible with your mount-to-ring gear measurement. They should also appreciate this tech info to reduce the number of come-backs in the future.

BTW, just to be nit-picky, the correct terminology is "overrunning clutch". A true Bendix drive moves into mesh due to inertia, not mechanical linkage. The Bendix gear drive was used on older FOMOCO vehicles as well as many utility vehicles.

"A Bendix drive is essentially a gear with a one-way clutch that engages only as long as power is applied to it. The starter motor drives the Bendix up the threads on the shaft to engage teeth on the perimeter of the flywheel, spinning the engine over. When the engine starts, the flywheel turns faster than the starter causing the one-way clutch to disengage. Shutting off the voltage to the starter motor allows the Bendix to drop back down the shaft threads away from the flywheel."
How a Small Engine Starter Works | eHow.com

Top: Starter with Bendix drive
Bottom: Gear reduction starter with typical solenoid-actuated overrunning clutch/pinion gear


Sherwood